Pothead device



Aug. 11, 1936. G. P. EDMoNDs POTHEAD DEVICE 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Jan. 17, 1931 l l l l /llll//l l WMA.

Aug. l1, 1936. P DMQNDS 2,050,294

A POTHEAD DEVICE Filed Jan. 17, 1951 2 sheets-sheet 2 alii] Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Po'rHEAD DEVICE corporation of Illinois Application January 17, 1931, Serial No. 509,329

12 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical conductor connections and more particularly to pothead devices such as are used for the connection of electrical cables in transformers, oil switch and the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce a connector device that will be safe to manipulate.

Another object is to provide a connector device that will be easily and quickly connected or disconnected.

Another object is to provide a connector device that will be oil tight and arranged to be connected or disconnected without breaking the fluid seal.

Another object is to provide a connector device that may be connected or disconnected without exposing the live disconnected terminal, so that no damage may result, rst drawing the oil or compound or any portion thereof from the container.

These and other objects will be attained and I will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a vertical axial section through the connector device showing it attached to a transformer tank or like device;

Fig. 2 is aA plan of the device;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. 1 but of slightly different form;

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 1, showing the device connected to a transformer box in a slightly different manner;

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the device shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing different means for attaching the device to a transformer tank; and

' Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the device shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 1 represents what may be understood to be a transformer or switch box or the like at I0, adapted to contain oil or other insulating compound, with a bottom plate or wall I I. Attached to thisv bottom plate or wall II is a hollow bushing I2 usually made of dielectrical material such as porcelain or the like. This bushing has a circumferential ange I3 and is held in position by the ring I1 which accommodates the bolts IIIA- I4 for fastening the bushing I2 to the wall II. Gaskets I5 and IB are provided at either side of the flange I3; the gasket I6 is held in position by the ring I1 which is directly under the heads of -the bolts I4. This gasket I5 very effectively operates to prevent leakage of the material in the receptacle III. The bushing is made hollow and of such proportions as to contain a contact device which may be separated as by withdrawing the part I9 from the part 20, the part 20 carrying contact shoes 2I-2I which slidably engage the part I9.

The assembly 20 and 2| is supported and connected by and to the upper part of the bushing I2 by the clamping device, which consists of the exteriorly threaded plug 23 which engages the interiorly threaded portion 24 of the part 20. The plug 23 has an upwardly projecting binding post 25 to which connections such vas indicated at 26 are made within the box II). A flange 28 is provided and arranged to compress a gasket 29 between it and the top at the bushing I2 through which the part 23 enters.

'I'he contact piece I9 is connected to the fitting 39 and forms the terminal of the lead cable indicated at 3l. The tting 30 is screw threaded into the bell-housing 32 which has a bolting flange 33 for the bolts 34 for attaching it to the wall II for supporting the cable 3l.

The flange 33 also serves to compress a gasket 35 between it and the bottom of the bushing I2.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the disconnection is made by separating the parts I9 and 28, which are well within the interior of the bushing I2 and this bushing will serve to shield the current-carrying part 20 so that no damage or accident 'may be caused by the otherwise ex-` posed terminal.

It will be further noted that this connection at I9 and 20 may be made or broken without drawing the contents of the uid contained in the tank I0.

Fig. 3 shows a structure having similar advantages but of slightly different details, mainly in the arrangement of the separable parts, I9L in this instance being arranged to be inserted in the member 24a. j

The bushing I2 is inserted through the bottom plate or wall IIa of the tank. This wall Il has a downwardly extending flange 36 which surrounds the bushing I2EL and arranged to receive sealing material such as cement or the like indicated at 31. This bushing has a ange I3a below or outside of the depending flange 36 and between these two flanges is a, compressible element in the form of a gasket or the like indicated at 35B, which serves to take up strain due to expansion of the wall I Iu and to protect the ange I3 against breakage. 'I'he cable support element 38 has a series of projecting bolting ears 33=133a which accommodate bolts or cap screws 3IIa which engage the wall I I and assist in holding the parts together; the cement joint'l is calculated to secure the bushing in position. A gasket between the element 38 and the ange I3 serves to prevent foreign matter from entering the bushing I2.

, Fig. 4 shows another manner ofsecuring the hollow bushing I2b which has a ange I3b similar to that shown in Fig. 3. but a collar 40 With an inturned flange 4l clamps the flange B31 and a gasket 42 between it and a screw threaded flange 43 which extends from the tting 32h.

Fig. 5 shows a construction similar to Fig. 1 as to the separable parts l9 and 20 and similar to the construction shown in Fig. 3 as'to the flange 33 which connects the member 32 to the bottom plate or wall.li. In this figure the removable part is shown in dotted lines to indicate that the cable 3i and the associated parts 30 and 32 are Withdrawn from the bushing l2 by removing the bolts Btw-34 and withdrawing the cable terminal 30 from the bushing. The bushing, in this form is secured in position by the cement indicated at 3l in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 shows the form of the anges 33 and the removable bolts 345.

Fig. 7 shows a construction common to the other forms in that the contact is made and brokenwithin the bushing i2d at ld and the spring contact members 2id. The members 2id are carried by the tting 26d and the plug 69d associated with the removable member 30d as in the other forms. In this form the bolts or cap screws laid- Md are removed permitting the cable terminal ld being withdrawn.

Fig. 8 shows the bolting ange 33d which is `iust below the Iiange i3d of the bushing i2d and a flange Hd, which is cemented to the bushing I2d just above it. The iiange l'ld is attached to the bottom plate or wall iid and serves to suppot the bushing i2d as well as the cable tting 32 It will be seen that with the arrangement of the bushing and the type of frictional connecspirit of this invention.

1. A device of the class specified comprising an outer casing, an inner casing inside of the outer casing and passing through the wall of the same, said inner casing having its outer end open to the space outside the outer casing, a circuit making and breaking device inside the inner cas-A ing, said device comprising a contact member provided with contacts and arranged at the inner end of said inner casing, said contact member and inner casing end being provided with ceo-operating shoulders permitting the contact member to make a tight t with the casing when drawn longitudinally thereof, and a terminal having a threaded end which fits into a threaded socket in said contact memberl and a nut on said terminal adapted to draw the same and the contact member together when said nut is turned, said nut being arranged outside of the inner end of said inner casing and co-operating with shoulders on the outer side of the inner end of said casing. l

2. A device of the class specied comprising an outer casing, an inner casing inside of the outer casing and passing through the wall of the same, said inner casing having its outer end open to the space outside the outer casing, a circuit making and breaking device inside the inner casing, said device comprising a Contact member provided witli contacts and arranged at the inner end of said inner casing, said contact member and inner casing end being provided with cooperating shouldersfpermitting said member to make a tight t with the casing when drawn longitudinally thereof, a terminal having a threaded end which fits into a threaded socket in said member and a nut on said terminal adapted to draw upon the contact member and casing together when said nut is turned, said nut being arranged outside of the inner end of said inner casing and co-operating with shoulders on the outer side of the inner end of said casing, and the other part of said circuit breaking device comprising a contact piece having a contact yadapted to co-operate with the contacts on said contact member, and means for detachably holding said contact piece in position in the inner casing to permit said contact members to close the circuit.

3. A device of the class speciiied comprising an outer casing, an inner casing inside of the outer casing and passing through the wall of the same, said inner casing having itsouter end open to the space outside the outer casing, a circuit making and breaking device inside the inner casing,

said device comprising a contact member provided with contacts and arranged at the inner end of said inner casing, said member and inner casing end being provided with co-operating shoulders permitting said member to make a tight iit with the casing when drawn longitudinally of the casing, a terminal having a threaded end. which ts into a threaded socket in said contact member and a nut on said terminal adapted to draw upon the contact member against the casing when said nut is turned, said nut being arranged outside of the inner end of said inner casing and co-operating with shoulders on the outer side of said casing, and the other part of said circuit breaking device comprising a contact piece having a contact member adapted to co-operate with the contacts on said contact member, and means for detachably holding said contact piece in position in the inner casing as to permit it to close the circuit, said last mentioned means` comprising a terminal housing adapted to receive and make connection with the cable end and also adapted to have said Contact piece connected to it before said contact piece is inserted into the open outer end of the inner casing to cause connection to be made between said contact members.

4. A device of the class specied comprising an outer insulating material casing, an inner.\cas ing inside the outer casing and passing through the wall thereof, said inner casing having its outer end open to communicate with the space outside the outer casing, a plug and socket make and break device within said inner casing, one member of said device being adapted for removal through the open end of the inner casing while the latter is in position in the outer casing, and means for closing the open end of the inner casing, said means comprising a housing having threaded connection with the removable make and break devices.

5. A device of the class specified comprising an outer casing, an inner casing inside the outer casing and passing through the wall thereof, said inner casing having its outer end open to communicate with the space outside the outer casing, 70 and being separable from the outer casing, a plug and socket make and break device within said inner casing, one member of said device being adapted for removal through the open end of the inne'r casing while the latter is in position in the 75 outer casing, means forV closing the open end of the inner casing, the inner end of the inner casing being adapted to substantially enclose and shield the plug and socket device left in the inner casing when one of said devices is removed through the open end, and means for making air and water-tight joints between the inner casing and the wall of the outer casing through which the inner casing passes and also between the outer end of the inner easing and said housing, said last mentioned means comprising packing material.

6. In combination, an outer casing adapted to hold a mobile insulating material and having an opening therein, an insulator bushing disposed Within said opening and extending into said outer casing and being connected thereto to provide a tight joint preventing loss of said material, a make and break device disposed within said bushing and comprising two members, one of said members being connected adjacent one end of said bushing to provide a tight joint to prevent loss of said material from said casing through said bushing, said bushing having its other end open to communicate with the exterior of said casing to receive the other member of said make and break device.

7. In combination, an outer casing adapted to hold a mobile insulating material and having an opening therein, an insulator bushing disposed within said opening and extending into said outer casing and being connected thereto to provide a tight joint preventing loss of said material, va make and break device disposed within said bushing and comprising two members, one of said members being connected adjacent one end of said bushing to provide a tight joint to prevent loss of said material from said casing through said bushing, said bushing having its other end open to communicate with the exterior of said casing to receive the other member of said make and breakdevice, and a housing operatively connected to said last-named member and connected to the open end of said bushing to close the same and to hold said members in association therewith.

8. In combination, an outercasing adapted to hold a mobile insulating material and having an opening therein, an insulator bushing disposed Within said opening and extending into said outer casing and being connected thereto to provide a tight joint preventing loss of said material, a make and break device disposed within said bushing and comprising two members, one of said members being connected adjacent one end of said bushing to provide a tight joint to prevent loss of said material from said casing through said bushing and having a part extending through said casing providing an electrical connection within said casing, said bushing having its other end open to communicate with the exterior of said casing, a cable having the other member of said make and break device operatively connected thereto, a housing operatively connected to said last-named member and cable, and means for securing said housing in closing relation with the open end of said bushing.

9. In combination, an outer casing adapted to hold a mobile insulating material and having an opening therein, an insulator bushing disposed Within said opening and extending into said outer.

casing and being connected thereto t'o provide a tight joint preventing loss of said material, said bushing having an opening at each end, a make and break device disposed within said bushing and comprising two members, one of said members being disposed in the opening at the inner end of said bushing and comprising means for drawing said member into cooperative relation with said bushing to provide a tight joint preventing loss of said material from said casing through said bushing, the opening at the other end of said bushing providing for communication with the exterior of said casing, a cable having the other member of said make and break device operatively connected thereto, a housing operatively connected to said last-named member and cable, and means for drawing said housing into closing relation with the open end of said bushing and'said members into operative electrical contact.

10. In combination, an outer casing adapted to hold a mobile insulating material and having an opening therein, an insulator bushing disposed within said opening and extending into said outer casing and being connected thereto to provide a tight joint preventing loss of said material, said bushing having an opening at each end, a make and break device disposed within said bushing and comprising two members, one of said members being disposed in the opening at the inner end of said bushing and comprising means for drawing said member into cooperative relation ,Y

with said bushing to provide a tight joint preventing loss of said material from said casing through said bushing, the opening at the other end of said bushing providing for communication with the exterior of said casing, a cable having the other member of said make and break device operatively connected thereto, a housing operatively and adjustably connected to said last-named member and cable, and means for securing said housing in closing relation with the o pen end of said` bushing. l

11. In combination, anouter casing adapted to hold a mobile insulating material and having an .opening therein, an insulator bushing disposed .of vsaid material from said casing through said bushing, the opening at the other end of said bushing providing for communication with the exterior of said casing, a cable having the other member of said make and break device operatively connected thereto, a housing operatively,... and adjustably connected to said 'Iastnamedf member and cable, and means for drawing said housing into closing relation with the open end of said bushing' and said members into operative electrical contact.

12. A device of the class specified comprising an outer insulator material casing, an inner casing inside the outer casing and passing through the wall thereof, said inner casing having its outer end open to communicate with the space outside the outer casing, a plug and socket make and break device within said inner casing, one member of said device being adapted for removal through the open end of the inner casing while the latter is in position in the outer casing, and means for closing the open end of the inner casing.

GEORGE P. EDMONDS. 

